Golf shoe attachment



Nov. 14, 1939. R. A. LYNE 2,179,942

GOLF SHOE ATTACHMENT Filed July ll, 1958 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 PATENT OFFICE GOLF SHOE ATTACHMENT Robert A. Lyne, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application July 11, 1938, Serial No. 218,544

(Cl. Sli-2.5)

9 Claims.V

This invention pertains to golf shoes and/or attachments therefor, and particularly, to shoe devicesfor improving the game of a golf player.

In playing golf, I have found it advantageous in the wind-up to pivot about the inner edge of my left shoe, and particularly, about the inner edge of the sole thereof. In this connection, I have particular reference to the wind-up which is accomplished by a player where the golf club is being moved backwardly preparatory to the making of a drive or stroke.

I have noticed that a dub or beginner in the game does not have any definite idea as to how to pivot about his or her left foot. The result is that the left leg and knee are out of a maximum hitting position, balance is lost during the swing, the maximum length of stroke is limited, and power is lost. I have discovered that the length of the stroke, and particularly, the length or depth of the backswing, which is recognized to be important by skillful players in obtaining an accurate as well as long shot, can also be materially increased by a suitable attachment for the left shoe.

In view of the above factors, it has been an object of my invention to provide a shoe or an attachment therefor that will increase the stability of an inexperienced player and/0r that will increase the accuracy of his or her shot.

Another object of my invention has been to provide a device or attachment that will, in effect, automatically direct the player as to the correct foot movement during a stroke.

Another object of my invention has been to increase the over-all length or depth of accurate stroke vthat may be accomplished by a player regardless of whether he is an expert or a dub.

A further object is to provide a shoe device or attachment that will at substantially all times insure a proper position of the left knee of a player for maximum power.

These and many other objects of my invention will appear to those skilled in the art in View of the description thereof, the claims, and the appended drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows the correct position for the feet and legs of a player during the wind-up; in this View, the .left heel is on the ground, the right knee is being straightened, and the left knee is being bent preparatory to finishing the back stroke;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a left shoe provided with attachments made and applied in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Figure 3 is a similar view partially section showing a modified form of attachment for a shoe sole portion;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View in elevation taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a similar but enlarged View taken ures 2 and 5. The device is preferably located l adjacent the big toe joint or adjacent the instep curve of the sole of the shoe. That is, the device or extension is preferably located adjacent the position on the left shoe of the player that will normally provide the best pivot, line, and then point-balance during the'swing.

I also preferably construct the devices or extension portions in such a manner that they provide a smooth, semi-cylindrical, rounded, and/or pivot-like surface, especially with respect to the vertical dimension thereof. The device should preferably bel attached in such a manner that its support or securing portions either do not extend beyond the level of the spikes on the bottom of the shoe surface or do not abut upon the bottom of the sole at all. In other words, I prefer to attach the devices in such'a manner that they will not interfere with the normal use of the shoe, and further, will not hurt the foot of the player during the normal walking use of that shoe.

The device or extension is balanced, weighted, and/or positioned in such a manner that even a dub player will tend to assume a natural and correct playing position when he begins to move the club backwardly preparatory to the backward stroke thereof. That is, the device or extension is balanced in such a manner that there is a denite feel of unbalance when the player begins to pivot in moving the club backwardly, and this unbalanced feel is only satisfied by moving the foot in the correct pivot position that will provide maximum accuracy and distance of drive. At the beginning of the backstroke, the left knee will be placed in proper position and it will then be automatically placed in a proper resisting position for the downstroke. The player is enabled to hit against the left side of his body at the moment the club contacts the ball.

As mentioned above, I preferably provide the extension with athickness based upon a balance of certain factors involved. Some of the main factors are: (l) the obtaining of a normal, smooth, accurate, and well-balanced pivot action during the stroke; (2) obtaining a definite correct feel as to pivot movement during the stroke; (3) providing a maximum power and accuracy of stroke; (4) providing or insuring a better left knee control.

I have definitely determined that a very slight extension beyond the normal edge of the shoe increases the possible distance of the back stroke, and results in a marked improvement in the game of the player. rIhus, although I prefer a rounded extension of between g" and 5/8 thickness, it will be apparent that other suitable ranges may be employed provided the above factors are suitably balanced; that is, I have found that the possible range is greater in the case of a skilled player than in the case of a dub player. The extension for the ordinary player must preferably fall within the above-mentioned range in order that the desired position-directing effect will be obtained.

In Figures 2 and 5, I have shown a metal device IO made from a suitable material such as aluminum casting and sloping substantially similar to a cylinder in a vertical direction; it is somewhat edge-sloped to substantially conform to the shoe or foot outline in a horizontal direction. A suitably curved or rounded Vertical surface is important. As shown, the device is provided with an inward extension ledge portion II which may be positioned between the upper portion of the shoe and the welt I3 thereof. It will be apparent that it can be secured by screws or rivets I4, or in any other suitable manner as by stitching. The securing means may be attached to the edge, bottom, welt, or other suitable portions of the shoe. I preferably provide suitable means on the pivot or stroke-truing device I such as I'I for presenting a non-skid or spike surface during the rocking or pivot action of the play.

Depending upon the horizontal depth of the element or device I0, it may be desirable to provide a heel plate 20 that will project slightly beyond the heel on the same side as the element I0 to aid in the sole attachment, primarily, in obtaining the initial correct line-pivot position of the foot, and consequently, in obtaining the desired left knee position. The heel plate 20 may be similarly rounded and provided with suitable spike or skid-resisting portions ZI. It is preferably secured to the heel 22 of the shoe beneath the normal surface level thereof which may be presented by spikes 23. If spikes are not used, the plate 20 can be inset.

In Figures 3 and 6, I have shown a modified form of my invention employing a somewhat flexible material such as leather. The device 3G, like the device IU, has a suitable edge thickness which is rounded out adjacent its outer portion to provide the desired pivot action and is provided with inwardly extending securing portions 3I and 32. Stitching 33 is shown for attaching the lower portion 32 to the sole I5 and the upper portion 3I to the welt I3; however, rivets, nails, or other securing means may be employed. The lower portion 33 may be omitted and the element directly secured by rivet or screw means extending substantially horizontally therethrough into the edge of the sole I 5. In any event, the portion 33 is preferably of very slight thickness and should not interfere with a normal walking utilization of the shoe. Studs or spikes 34 can be suitably positioned in the element 30 to prevent slipping during the pivot action.

It will be apparent that the device I0 of my invention can be provided with any other suitable securing means and can be attached in any suitable manner. For example, it can be provided with one or more positioning lugs that project adjacent the shoe sole I5 (opposite to flange II), or can be provided with a securing means such as explained in connection with the heel plate 2B. However, I prefer an arrangement having a minimum of surface abutting the shoe sole.

Although for the purpose of illustration, I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, substitutions, additions, and/or combinations may be made in View of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A golf shoe having a portion extending beyond a normal inner side edge thereof, said portion having a pivot face curved outwardly from and as a substantial continuation of the sole of the shoe, said portion being constructed and arranged and being balanced in such a manner that it will automatically direct the knee of a wearer towards his other knee rather than outwardly where a golf stroke is being taken.

2. A golf shoe having a portion extending be yond a normal inner side edge thereof, said portion being spaced from the tip of the shoe and being located beyond the instep thereof, said porl tion being positioned in substantial continuation of an adjacent portion of the shoe sole and being curved outwardly and upwardly with respect thereto to provide a foot-position directing pivot for the shoe, said portion being constructed and arranged to pivotally direct the shoe in such a manner that the knee of a wearer will tend to turn towards his other knee rather than outwardly where a golf stroke is being taken.

3. A golf shoe having a portion extending beyond a normal inner side edge thereof, said portion having a pivot face curved outwardly from and as a substantial continuation of a sole of the shoe, said portion being constructed and arranged and being balanced in such a manner that it will automatically direct the knee of a wearer towards his other knee rather than outwardly where a golf stroke is being taken, skid-preventing stud means on said pivot face, extending portions of said stud means being located back of a plane representing the normal exposed surface of the shoe sole.

4. A golf shoe having an attached portion for bettering the game of a golf player by directing his knees into a suitable position during a drive, said portion extending beyond a normal inner side edge of the shoe and having a pivot surface, said portion being off balanced with respect to an upper portion of the side edge of the shoe and being constructed and arranged and attached in such a manner that the player may pivot thereabout in making a golf stroke without losing his balance and in such a manner as to improve his stroke.

5. In a shoe attachment for bettering the game of a golf player by directing his knees into a suitable position during a drive, an element having a pivot surface portion, attaching means adapted to secure said element on a side edge of the sole of a shoe, said element having a pivot surface that is convexly curved to form a continuation of the adjacent surface of the shoe sole, said element being constructed and arranged and adapted to be positioned in such a manner that its curved portions extend upwardly from and beyond exposed bottom surface portions of the shoe sole, said element having its greatest thickness beyond a plane representing the normally exposed bottom surface portions of the shoe so-le.

6. In a shoe attachment for bettering the game of a golf player by directing his knees into a suitable position during a drive, an element having a pivot surface portion, attaching means adapted to secure said element adjacent a side edge of the sole of a shoe, said element having a pivot surface that is convexly curved to form a continuation of the adjacent surface of the shoe sole, said element being constructed and arranged and adapted to be positioned in such a manner that its curved portions extend upwardly from and beyond exposed bottom surface portions of the shoe sole, said element having its greatest thickness in back of a plane representing the exposed bottom surface portions of the shoe sole, and skid-preventing stud means mounted on said portion of greatest thickness and extending therefrom, the extending portions of said stud means .being adapted to be located back of a plane representing the normally exposed surface of the shoe sole.

'7. In a shoe attachment for bettering the game of a golf player by directing his knees into a suitable position during a drive, a pivot element having a substantially-uniformly curved outer surface portion, said element being adapted to be mounted on an inner side edge portion'of a shoe of the player in such a manner that its pivot surface portion is substantially continuous with a bottom surface portion of a sole of the shoe to which it is to beattached and in such a manner that said surface portion substantially conforms in its length contour tothe length contour of the inner side of the shoe to which it is to be attached.

8. In a shoe attachment for bettering the game of a golf player by directing his knees into a suitable position during a drive, an element'l having a pivot surface portion, said element also having an attachment portion for mounting it on a side edge of the sole of the shoe, said element being of a flexible material such as leather and being adapted to be securely attached adjacent a bottom portion thereof on aside portion of the sole of the shoe, said element being ofibalanced With respect to an upper portion of a side edge of the shoe and being constructed and arranged and adapted to be attached in such a manner that the player may pivot thereabout in making a golf stroke Without losing his balance and in such a manner as to improve his stroke.`

9. In a shoe attachment for bettering the game of a golf player by directing his knees into a suitable position during a drive, an element having a pivot surface portion, said element also having an attachment portion for securing it adjacent a side edge of the sole of the shoe, said element being of a flexible material such as leather and being adapted to be securely attached adjacent a bottom portion thereof to a side edge of the sole of the shoe, said element being adapted to be loosely-positioned with respect to an upper portion of a side edge of the shoe and being constructed and arranged and adapted to be attached in such a manner that the player may pivot thereabout in making a golf stroke without losing his balance and in such a manner as to improve his stroke.

ROBERT A. LYNE.

Cil 

